Ulster 17 Ospreys 16:Ulster opened their Magners League campaign with the narrowest of wins over defending champions The Ospreys in a dramatic finish at Ravenhill.
With the Ospreys seemingly having battled back to steal the game at the death, thanks to Shaun Connor's third penalty, the visitors were penalised at the restart and prop Paul James was sin-binned for pole-axing Matt McCullough.
From the resulting penalty, Ulster's impressive rookie fly-half Niall O'Connor calmly slotted the points — this despite a huge roar from a member of the Ospreys entourage just as O'Connor made contact with the ball which sparked furious scenes from sections of the Ulster fans — and Ulster looked good for their win.
But, deep in injury time, the Ospreys had another chance to snatch the result with a late, late penalty but Connor was wide and consigned his side to their third successive league defeat, though each has brought them a losing bonus point.
Ulster, displaying plenty of aggression up front, took an early lead through the composed O'Connor and could have had a try when prop Tom Court was put through from turnover ball only for some desperate Ospreys defending to just bundle him into touch.
However, Ulster built on their missed opportunity with O'Connor's second penalty, just after the first quarter, which was swiftly followed by Connor's horrible penalty shank for Ospreys' opening chance to get on the scoreboard.
The Ospreys fly-half did manage to successfully convert their next chance, Connor bisecting the uprights for the penalty, but Ulster finished the half by furthering their lead with O'Connor's third penalty.
Ulster furthered their lead shortly after the restart when Scotland international Simon Danielli crossed in the left corner for an unconverted score but, just before the hour, Connor charged down his opposite number and put Andrew Bishop cleared for a try which Connor easily converted.
The Ospreys fly-half then reduced Ulster's lead to a single point with another penalty before, four minutes from the end of normal time, his third penalty gave the Ospreys a short-lived lead before the tense finish.
